[Dentinal hypersensitivity in periodontal disease. Aetiology Aetiology--management]

The exposure of dentine has a multifactoral aetiology and pain may frequently be elicited by a number of stimuli. Management of dentinal hypersensitivity tends to be empirical because of the lack of knowledge concerning the mechanism of pain transmission through dentine. Nevertheless, whichever theory proves to be correct, occlusion of dentinal tubules would appear an essential prerequisite for an effective desensitising agent. A large number of compounds as well as iontophoresis have been employed in the management of dentinal hypersensitivity. These desensitising agents are: sodium, fluoride, stannous fluoride, sodium monofluorophosphate, strontium chloride, calcium hydroxide, potassium nitrate, silver nitrate, formalin, corticosteroids, resins, varnishes and glass ionomers. The most effective of the compounds mentioned above, are fluorides used as gels, varnishes, mouthwashes or toothpastes, strontium chloride and potassium nitrate.